Athlete&#39;s kick gauge



Nov. 28, 1961 B. .LMoRRow 3,010,321

ATHLETE'S KICK GAUGE Filed June 21. 1960 Fig.2

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' ,5 BY Wyfl wi g ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,010,321Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,010,321 ATHLETES KICK GAUGE Bobby I. Morrow,609 East North 21st St., Abilene, Tex. Filed June 21, 1960, Ser. No.37,654 3 Claims. (Cl. 73-379) This invention relates to a kick gauge,and it concerns more particularly a practice device for the use ofathletes participating in track and other athletic activities in whichrunning is involved, for measuring the initial thrust, relative to theground, imparted by the foot of a runner at the beginning of a run, asat the start of a race.

At the beginning of an athletic contest such as a foot race, in whichspeed is important, it is customary for the participants, at thebeginning of a run, to kick or push against the ground with the footwhereby the body is set in motion quickly. The force of such initialkick is an important factor in determining the time which may berequired to traverse a given distance.

An object of this invention is to provide a practice device for use inindicating relatively the force which may be applied in the initial kickof a runner, as at the start of a race, whereby the runner maypositively determine the quality of his performance in this respect andmay strive for further improvement thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as describedwhich is characterized by its simple, rugged construction, is adapted tobe fabricated inexpensively, and is eflicient in operation and durablein use.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a kick gauge embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the parts; and

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to that of FIGURE 2, showing a modified formof the invention.

Referring to FIGURES l to 6 of the drawing, the kick gauge of theinvention includes a generally triangular, box like housing, indicatedgenerally by the numeral 1, which is open at the bottom and has a frontopening therein.

The housing 1 has parallel, generally triangular side walls 2, and anupwardly and forwardly inclined combined top and rear wall 3. The frontand rear edges of the side walls 2 converge upwardly, and the frontedge, which is shorter than the rear edge, is curved inwardlyintermediate its ends. A transverse strip 4, which is positionedforwardly of the housing 1, adjacent its lower edge, is connected at itsends to the side walls 2 and defines a from opening above it.

A relatively stiff, flexible plate 5, which advantageously may 'beformed of spring steel, has its peripheral edge received in alignedgrooves 6 which are provided therefor in the inner periphery of thehousing 1, forwardly thereof, and is loosely secured therein, whereby itis capable of limited flexing movement relative to the housing 1, by anoverlying sheet of resilient material 7, such as rubber, which ispositioned exteriorly of the plate 5 and has its peripheral edge, whichextends outwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the plate 5, secured tothe marginal portions of the housing surrounding the plate 5.

The flexible plate 5, together with the resilient material 7, togetherconstitute a flexible diaphragm forming a closure for the front openingof the housing 1.

A shaft 8 is arranged transversely of the housing 1, and is journaled atits ends in bearings provided therefor in bosses 9 and 10 formed on theside walls 2, interiorly thereof, intermediate the ends of the housing1, near the bottom. The shaft 8 is passed through an opening in one ofthe side walls 2, opposite the bearings, and is received in a sockettherefor in the other of the side walls 2. The shaft 8 is securedagainst displacement from the housing 1 by a detent element 11, which ispivotally connected to the side wall 2 having the opening therein,exteriorly thereof, as at 12, and normally overlies the adjacent end ofthe shaft 8.

The boss 10, which provides a bearing or socket for the inner end of theshaft 8, has a bore 13 therein, perpendicular to the shaft 8. Aresilient element 14, 'which is received in the bore 13, is acted on bya set screw 15 threaded therein. The resilient element 14 is adapted tofrictionally engage the shaft 8, upon tightening the set screw 15,whereby the shaft 8 resists turning in either direction.

A pointer 16 has an opening therein intermediate its ends whichsurrounds the shaft 8. The pointer 16 is removably and adjustablyconnected to the shaft 8 by a set screw 17, and is adjustable rotativelyand longitudinally relative thereto.

One end of the pointer 16, which is positioned in closely spacedrelation to the shaft 8, is pi-votally connected to a link 18. The link18 is connected by threads to a rod 19 whereby it is adjustablelongitudinally relative thereto. The end of the rod 19 opposite the link18 is passed through a guide 20 therefor carried by one of the sidewalls 2, and normally abuts the under side of the plate 5.

The end of the pointer 16 opposite the link 18 extends through alongitudinal slot 21 in the combined top and rear wall 3, which hasindicia 22 thereon opposite the slot 21 indicating the position of thepointer 16 relative thereto.

As shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, the housing 1 is anchored to the ground,indicated by the numeral 23, by means of a rail 24, which is embedded inthe ground 23 and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 25therein for selective engagement by an elongated pin 26. The pin 26 hasa flat side 27 on one end thereof for engagement with a pair ofcorrespondingly shaped openings 28 in opposite sides of the housing 1,through which the pin 26 is passed.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the housing 1 is anchored to the ground 23 bymeans of a plurality of downwardly extending spurs 29, whichadvantageously may be formed integrally with the side walls 2.

In use, the foot of a runner is poised immediately adjacent the flexiblediaphragm comprising the flexible plate 5 and the resilient material 7,and the force of his initial kick, as at the start of a race, is appliedto the diaphragm, resulting in flexing thereof to a greater or lessdegree. The flexing movement of the diaphragm relative to the housing 1,which is transmitted to the pointer 16 through the rod 19 and the link18, indicates relatively the force of the kick.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from thespirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A kick gauge comprising a housing having a front opening therein, aflexible diaphragm forming a closure for the opening, a rotatable shaftarranged transversely of the housing, a pointer removably and adjustablyconnected intermediate its ends to the shaft and rotatable therewith, arod having means pivotally connecting it at one end to one end of thepointer, guide means supporting the rod in abutting relation to thediaphragm whereby the rod is movable reciprocally, to thereby move thepointer rotatively with the shaft, in response to fiex ing movement ofthe diaphragm, the housing having a slot therein and one end of thepointer extending through the slot, and indicia on the housing oppositethe slot indicating the position of the pointer relative thereto.

2. The structure of claim 1, and adjustable means References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schultze Nov. 5, 1889Carter Aug. 23, 1910 Hondorn Aug. 18, 1959

